Sunday 6 February 2011

Thought Exchange at the Artea shop, Stirchley


You may have noticed a new tea shop pop up on Stirchley High Street, on the corner of Pershore Road and Ivy Road. It is part of 'Inhabit', a visiting community art project under the 'Arts in Empty Spaces' scheme. Commissioned by the council's arts team and run by Hybrid Consulting, the tea room acts as a space for artists, both from the local area and across the region, to engage with Stirchley residents, community groups and local businesses.

Prior to landing in Stirchley, the Inhabit project visited Ladywood and Handsworth. It took some encouragement to get the tea room to visit Stirchley, but now it's here, it's good news!

The are a lot of exciting discussions happening about the use of the tea shop: Stirchley Happenings are looking to use it for a film night on Friday 25th February - I will keep you posted!

Stirchley Thought Exchange will have an appearance in some format too: we're thinking of exhibiting some of the thoughts from the two exchanges to date in a photo album that we can leave on the tables in the tea room, so people can read through at their leisure and drink free tea and eat free cake. There will also be an opportunity for you to contribute thoughts on the area. I'm hoping to exhibit some of the photos that were taken at both events too, and try and invite those people who have contributed so far back for a tea drinking evening, to reflect on recent change in the area.

I am awaiting a full programme of activities, but the shop will be there until the end of February. Every Thursday is late night tea drinking, so if you're free I recommend checking it out - from 6pm - 8pm.


Linking back to August's Thought Exchange at the Community Market, there were themes of having a tea room in Stirchley, or more cafes. With the Artea shop happening, as well as Cakes for Life's schedule of cafe based events, Stirchley is, more so than ever, an exiting place to be!

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